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Arnott affair, Schaw and Wigmore certainly attempted to capitalize out
of it . In mid October, 1841, Thomas McDoNell of the Van Di emen ' s Land
Chronicle received a letter, signed "Vindcx" , detailin the fo l lo\dng
facts : A man, Arnott, \vas assigned to Hall who attended his servnt 's
wife and family professionally; in payment Arnott 's rations were stopfell ;
later, when Arnott was away from the settlement, Hall attended his wife
in her confinement at which time she died; for this he in a day or two
[;
.,
sent in his account, and on Arnott being unable to pay it, took away his
pig after having it valued , and that not being sufficient, took away the
trough too . However, McDowell refused to publish the letter unless the
author gave his name . Soon after Wigmore called upon him with a letter
from the author who declared himself to be M. Robinson, the Police Clerk
of Bothwell. McDowell, who knew nothing of Robinson, asked Wigmore if
the facts were correct and if Robinson could be trusted. On being
assured that they were, McDowell published Robinson 's letter on
October 22. In view of Hall's behaviour and attitude to the assigned
servants of other people, it was a particularly vicious libel .
Unfortunately, of Arnott himself nothing is known except that he was
commended for bravery during the brewery fire. What part the Police
Clerk played is also uncertain. According to Wigmore 's own statement ,
he was a "most unpresuming character" and therefore unlikely to perpetrate
such a libel except under pressure . 3 2
The year 1841 closed with another lecture delivered by Hall on
December 29 to the Literary Society. Continuing his series on the organs
of the body, he spoke on the "Structure and Functions of the Organs of
the Voice", illustrating his theme as usual with many of his own drawinps ,
beautifully executed. The lecture, described as "one of the most
interesting and instructive ever delivered at the institution" was given
to an exceptionally large audi ence , for a bigger crowd than usual had
gathered to see the surgeon carry out a very special duty, the
presentation of a silver salver to Garrett as a token of their esteem
and appreciation of his services as the founder and for many years active
supporter of the Literary Society, both as a lecturer and secretary .
In making the presentation, Hall spoke of a committee of six composed
of members of three different religious sects , how two out of the three
subscription lists had been left at the most public places, and of the
list of subscribers which included almost everyone, nearly all the heads
;.
3 2 Colonial Times , Oct . 5, 1841 .